Senior sci. Ass. Doc. Biol. Sci. Vladimir Beshkov has been dedicated his hard work during the years to preservation and reducing to a minimum the dramatic decline of tortoise populations in Bulgaria. In last years his work has been supported by Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB)/ BirdLife Bulgaria in partnership with experts by National Museum of Natural History and Science (NMNHS) and Zoological Institute by Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS), Regional Inspection of the Environment and Water (RIEW), Regional Forestry Board and State Forestry. The cooperation between these institutions contributes to the conservation and regeneration of tortoise population in Bulgarian. Relating to this under BSPB initiative and the financial support of Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme (Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation/ BBF currently), Terrarium "Vissenbjerg, Denmark, Bio/Zoo Information Denmark, Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities (EMEPA) by Ministry of Environment and Water , "Ecoobstnost" Foundation and Rufford Small Grants Foundation numerous activities have been realized for the conservation of both species as part of effective programme for tortoises conservation developed in last five years.
BSPB activities for tortoises' conservation in Bulgaria

1. Revising and improvement of the existing penalty-procedure decree

For the improvement of Bulgarian Nature Conservation Legislation after long-term discussions with different target groups and long-term analyses of the gaps in existing legislation relating to tortoises conservation done, BSPB and BBF put forward proposals for amendments and complements to leading Bulgarian Acts - Biodiversity Conservation Act, Penalty Code of Bulgaria as a result such amendments and complements were done in 2005 allude to the low rigidity regarding poaching. New text in the Biodiversity Conservation Act points that by causing damages to certain plant and animal species listed in annex 3, the guilty person pay compensation at the rate defined by the Council of Ministers.

   Penalty Code of Bulgarian Republik. "Art. 278b. (new, State Gazette Num.28/1982 ; former Art. 278a, Num. 10/1993): clause (4) (Amendment, State Gazette, Num. 10/1993, Num. 85 /1997 , num. 92 from 2002, former Art. 103 from 2004, num. 88/2005 ) "Those who kill, capture, keep or sell individuals of European or globally threatened  wild vertebrate species withouth official permission are punished by imprisonment up to five years, penalised from 1000  up to 5000 lv and compensation of the demage caused by the act."

   2. Working out and application  of "National Action Plan for tortoise conservation in Bulgaria"

   A draft of "National Action Plan for tortoise conservation in Bulgaria" was worked out under BSPB project financed by Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme (BSBCP) in 2002 involving experts by NMNHS – BAS and BSPB. The plan systematizes the available information on tortoises in Bulgaria, defining the tendency, stages and institutional responsibilities, as well as it puts forward a budget frame for the funds required for future solution of the problem on conservation of both globally threatened species.
The goal of the plan is preservation and reducing to a minimum the dramatic decline of tortoise populations in Bulgaria. It was under consideration during workshops attended by broad range experts by concerned NGOs and Scientific Institutions by BAS.

Photo: B. Petrov

     3. Activities introducing policy for long-term conservation of tortoises and their habitats

   Coordination of the activities for tortoise conservation between responsible control bodies in Bulgaria as MoEW, Ministry of Interior (MoI), Regional Forestry Board, NGO and other interested parties

• Foundation and coordination the activities of "National Work Group on Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in Bulgaria"

"National Work Group on Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in Bulgaria" was founded in Bulgaria as a joint initiative of BSPB and NMNHS-BAS. Many experts interested in conservation of Bulgarian herpetofauna are members of the group. Five symposiums of the work group are carried out by the moment as the subject field became wide-ranging and currently is established as "National Work-Group for Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in Bulgaria" aiming cooperation of experts by different institutions for the sake of Amphibians and Reptiles Conservation.

Photo: BSPB

• Founding interdepartmental work group of experts by the following institutions: MoEW, MoI, National Forestry Board, NGO and other interested parties

   It is one of the main priorities in the work for tortoise conservation in the period 2003 – 2005 that directly brings to most effective acts on preventing illegal collection and trade of both species in Bulgaria. Relating to this considerable result on regional level was application of field control on tortoises poaching as prior activities in the planning of Regional Consultative Council on Forest Conservation by Regional Forestry Board-Kardzali for period 2003-2005. Currently efforts are put on applying this positive practice in other country regions and on national level as well.

• Carrying out seminars in the regions of intensive poaching with representatives of the control institutions: Regional Forestry Board, State Forestry, RIEW, Regional Structures of MoI and officials from Department of Justice

   Dissemination of information on nature conservation in particular the measures and means for tortoises' and other protected species conservation are crucial for improving the field control effectiveness on regional level.
For the period 2002 – 2005 numerous seminars attended by the control institutions representatives are carried out in the key country regions for both species conservation. Two training courses for custom officers, biodiversity conservation inspectors by RIEW, experts by State Veterinary and Sanitary Control trained in identifying and being in charge of species listed in Convention on International Trade with Endangered Species (CITES) target of export, import or transiting Bulgarian borders. In the period of 2003-2005 on tortoise conservation and poaching prevention projects realized by BSPB experts, twelve courses are carried out during which more than 200 officers by the control institutions and municipalities are trained on applying nature conservation legislation, in particular tortoises conservation. In 2003 a seminar was carried out for analyzing the legislation and problems relating to its effective application in counteracting the poaching. It was attended by RIEW experts, including jurist-consultants, as well as officials from Department of Justice and representatives by the police and NGO-s. The direct results of the seminar brought to later alteration to the Penalty Code of Bulgarian Republic.

• Adding measures for tortoises conservation by working out management plans for the protected areas;

   Such measures are written in chapter "Programmes and projects" of the worked out management plans for Nature Park "Strandza" and NP "Sinite Kamani" but the main problem remains lack of management plans for the protected areas, essential for tortoises conservation.

• Establishing contacts with Rehabilitation centers and Zoos

   The National Work Group on Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in Bulgaria established numerous successful contacts with Rehabilitation centers and Zoos around the country regarding the opportunity for their functioning as centers for collection of confiscated or voluntarily given back tortoises by the time of return in their natural habitats. Agreements have been done with some of them for revealing periodically information about the number of tortoise individuals entered the center and those returned successfully in their natural habitats.

     4.2.5. Developing mechanism for stimulating the local people and state officers for counteracting tortoises poaching

   For more effective actions of the state officers and local people against illegal tortoises collection under project "Eastern Rhodopes" implemented  in 1998 by BSPB and financed by BSBCP was developed and applied a system for financial stimulation of the officers captured tortoises' poachers and citizens forwarded information brought to their detention. It resulted in high rate increase of poachers under detention and number of local people warning about tortoises poaching. The total amount of the allocated sum by the end of 2005 was 800.00 lv.

     4.2.6. Developing capacity for tortoises conservation in Bulgaria

   Within last years efforts were put towards attracting, motivating and training young people for their direct tortoise conservation activities involvement. It is a key point by realization of projects aiming both tortoise species conservation in Bulgaria. Three paid officers are involved in the activities by the moment as well as more than 30 volunteers and it is a reason for establishment and expansion of purposive programme for Bulgarian herpetofauna conservation. The additional activities for tortoise conservation are included in vulture conservation projects carried out in the country.

     4.3. Direct nature conservation activities

     4.3.1. Organizing and implementing joint actions with officers by Regional Forestry Board, MoI, RIEW, NGO and other interested parties.

   Result-oriented control for tortoises' conservation in Bulgaria and poaching counteraction was launched in 2002 under BSPB project:"Decreasing the rate of tortoise poaching in Eastern Rhodopes" and by the end of 2005 have been realized more than 50 examinations in which eight RIEW had been involved as well as the MoEW, Regional Prosecutor office, Police, Border Police, State Forestry, Regional Forestry Board. During the examination of nature conservation legislation implementation and control, more than 20 public places, private houses, logging camps etc. are visited. This experience contributed to drawing the control institutions attention to the problem and to developing their capacity for the aim of tortoise conservation.

Photo: G. Popgeorgiev

      4.3.2. Developing and maintaining National Data Base relating to the illegal collection, trade and export of tortoises

   In 2002 National Work Group on Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in Bulgaria initiated the development of National Data Base for information on illegal collection, trade and export of tortoises. It consist information about prevented attempts for collecting and trading tortoises, passed and criminal case, personal data of poachers etc. Main reason of developing and maintaining such data base is to find out the organized illegal channel of collection and trade with both species as well as effective counteracting to it. The data base is maintain by BSPB-Plovdiv office and is updated after every new case of poaching found.

     4.3.2. Participation in court cases and writing of administrative protocols

   By this moment experts by BSPB, BAS and BBF have been attending all court cases against tortoise poachers. 11 persons have been convicted and one of them got effective sentence and was eventually imprisoned.

1. Monitoring and scientific research

   As initiative of the National Work Group at the beginning of 2003 experts by NMNHS and Zoological Institute by BAS worked out standard method for tortoise marking, according to geographic regions. Due to the method the origin can be established and the individuals can be brought back at places they are collected after their data base registration. Tortoise marking contributes to studying other important biological and ecological aspects of the species such as movements, migrations etc.
In 2004 was launched the first strategy research on assessment of forest fires on tortoise populations on the territory of Eastern Rhodopes and Sackar Mountain. It will be carried out 4 years and will contribute to the prevention and regeneration both tortoise species populations in the burned down regions.
The National Work Group assist to students and volunteers interested in carrying out regional research on different of biological and ecological aspects of both species.
Bulgarian assessment to the European Union will give more opportunities for biodiversity conservation by consolidation of the existing measures and establishment of such new measures of protection. A European Union requirement is the regular monitoring of protected and endangered species and natural habitats.
The monitoring and the submitted results report will allow the tendencies in species conservation status and their habitat status to be followed. The tendencies will reveal information for species and habitats status assessment in Bulgaria and European Union, giving opportunity and reason for making decisions on these levels for national and regional management of the natural resources.

Photo: D. Plachiyski

Photo: G. Popgeorgiev

     6. Improving the information and raising nature conservation knowledge of the different target groups

     6.1. Publishing printed materials (posters, leaflets, stickers etc) promoting tortoises conservation and their habitats in Bulgaria

   The first released poster promoting tortoise preservation ("Protected by the low") is published in 1985 and had been actively spread in the period 1986-1988. In 1998 MoEW release color poster "Protected reptiles" but it does not become very popular. In 2002 BSPB release posters "Tortoises extinct on the territory of Bulgaria" and Global threatened species on the territory of Eastern Rhodopes" revealing photo and text on tortoises. In 2005 BSPB release the most recent in this format poster dedicated to tortoises' conservation. The species can be found on posters released by other nature conservation NGO-s as well.
Information about the need of their protection is published and spread by leaflets as well. In 1997 is printed the leaflet" Tortoises in Eastern Rhodopes" and in 2002 BSPB released the leaflet "How to act by catching poachers collecting tortoises" spread mostly among the control institutions, MoIA officers, State Forestry, Customs Agency etc. In 2002 Regional Forest Board-Bourgas printed colored sticker promoting tortoise conservation status. In 2003 and 2005 such sticker was published by BSPB as well.    

   It is clearly revealed the trend of increasing number of materials published on tortoises status and need of preservation that brought to raising target group' awareness.

     6.2. Information materials distribution
The first result-oriented distribution of information materials on tortoise conservation in Bulgaria is carried out by D-r Vladimir Beshkov in past century 80-es.
Within last years informational materials are spread effectively during seminars, training courses and non official workshops with different institutions representatives (MoIA, State Forestry, municipalities, communities, schools etc.). In the period 2003-2005 BSPB organized and implemented effective campaigns for spreading information materials in regions of the country where tortoises poaching is very intensive. The campaign activities are especially active in the region of Eastern Rhodopes. In these activities many volunteers as well as state and municipal institutions' officers are involved.

Photo: G. Popgeorgiev

      6.3. Revealing the tortoises' conservation problems and advance in national and regional electronic and press media

   During last 30 years many articles promoting tortoises' conservation had been published due to the main contribution of D-r Vladimir Beshkov. Since 2001 BSPB, BSBCP and NMNHS experts participate actively in promoting the problems of both tortoise species conservation in the media. 38 articles had been published and broadcasts emitted in 2002, for 2003 by September there numbers is 26, for 2004 is 20 and for 2005 more then 40 materials are released. These BSPB data does not reveal the results gained leaded by other institutions campaigns.

      6.4. Constructing Internet site consisting reach information - educational data base

   For making popular the need of the tortoise conservation in national aspect, in 2003 BSPB constructed the first thematic Internet site on tortoise conservation in Bulgaria: http://testudo.bspb.org. In 2005 it evolved in the site subject of your attention.

     6.5.Carrying out educational programmes on conservation of Bulgarian herpetofauna in particular tortoises conservation

     6.5.1. School educational activities

   In 2001 on the territory of the community of Haskovo and Kardzali are carried out seminars attended by school teachers from the region for motivating and enhancing their capacity for leading lectures on nature conservation topics.
For coordination the work on ecological education in 2002 BSPB carried out joint seminar with Regional Educational Inspectorate –Plovdiv and NGO-s.
In the frame of the seminar an accord was attaint on including both tortoises' species as examples in the programme of studies.
In the period of 2001-2005 numerous nature conservation lectures and field training activities with pupils and teachers by different educational institutions in the country are realized, aiming confirmation of the knowledge gained and acquiring experience on the field in direct nature conservation activities on tortoises' conservation.

Photo: BSPB

    6.5.2.Setting up nature conservation cycle at school and supporting the activities of the school eco-clubs

   In 2001 under BSPB project was set up cycle on ecology and nature conservation for the eco-clubs in Plovdiv. Cycle on this subject was formed in town of Rakovski as well, considering the problem of the tradition based consumption of tortoises at the region and the strong interest on nature conservation showed by the pupils. As a result of the realized nature conservation programme in the town of Rakovski, Municipality Administration subsided additional classes of the cycle.
National work group experts actively participate in the planning of the school programmes for the subject of biology. They place at disposal periodically information materials (books, posters, leaflets, stickers), video materials on nature conservation topics and slides for using in certain period.

     6.5.3. Carrying out educational campaigns among students by Institutions of Higher Education

   For raising human resources for the aim of direct conservation activities realization, in 2003 – 2004 BSPB implemented the project "Raising human awareness, training and involving young people in nature conservation activities at Eastern Rhodopes region". Activities on the project included carrying out lectures on nature conservation and field training of students on vary matters. For lecturing were invited some of the most prominent experts in the field of nature science and conservation in country. In the frame of the lectures special attention was put on the programme for tortoises Conservation in Bulgaria as most of people interested in the topic were involved in direct activities for their preservation. In 2005 – 2006 under project:"Conservation of Globally threatened tortoise species Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca Linnaeus) and Herman's tortoise (Testudo hermanni Gmelin) in Bulgaria" the nature conservation lectures at University of Plovdiv are renewed.

Photo: D. Plachiyski

     6.6. Methodical materials released in the last few years relating to tortoises conservation

   In the last few years BSPB release books of collections and scholastic materials. The following are dedicated to tortoise conservation: "Wild life of Sakar" (2000), "Animal world of Eastern Rhodopes" (2001), "Globally threatened species on the territory of Plovdiv District" (2002), "Protected Areas in Eastern Rhodopes and Sakar Mountains" (2002). In 2002 is relesed the book "Amphibians and Reptiles of Bulgaria" (Beshkov & Nanev, 2002).